Lead Engineer – Android Mobile Application Opportunity at Wasoko

About Us:

Wasoko (“people of the market” in Swahili) is an innovative force transforming African communities through enhanced access to essential goods and services. As the largest digitized retail distribution platform in East Africa, powered by our in-house logistics network, we empower tens of thousands of informal retailers across Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, and Zambia to order vital goods and receive working capital financing.

The Role: Lead Android Application Developer

Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Type: Full-Time

Job Overview:

Are you a dynamic and skilled Lead Android Application Developer? We’re inviting you to join our groundbreaking startup team at Wasoko. As a pivotal figure within our Android development team, you will play a vital role in shaping and delivering cutting-edge mobile experiences in the ever-evolving ecommerce sector. We’re looking for an individual with a solid Android app development background, a flair for innovation, and leadership capabilities to guide and nurture a team of developers. This is your chance to excel in an innovative work environment that values creativity, collaboration, and unwavering technical excellence.

Responsibilities:

Leadership and Mentorship

• Lead a dynamic team of Android developers, offering invaluable technical guidance, mentorship, and consistent performance evaluations.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate seamlessly with cross-functional teams including designers, product managers, and backend developers. Together, you’ll define, design, and deliver exceptional Android applications that embody the spirit of innovation at our startup.

Architectural Ingenuity

• Design, develop, and maintain intricate Android applications that set new industry benchmarks in performance, security, and user experience, all within the dynamic ecommerce landscape.

Pioneering Technology Adoption

• Advocate for the integration of emerging technologies and best practices, ensuring that our Android applications remain pioneers of innovation.

Performance Optimization

• Oversee the implementation of performance monitoring and alerting systems, ensuring peak app performance and an unparalleled user experience, thus fostering a culture of constant enhancement.

Seamless User Experiences

• Analyze app performance metrics, pinpoint bottlenecks, and proactively address performance hurdles, contributing to the delivery of seamless and responsive user experiences.

DevOps Collaboration

• Work closely with DevOps and infrastructure teams to optimize app deployment and scaling strategies, fortifying our startup’s agility and technical robustness.

Fostering Idea-Sharing

• Participate actively in brainstorming sessions and technical dialogues, cultivating an environment of open communication and collaborative idea-sharing within the development team.

Development Excellence

• Drive the development process forward, encompassing tasks like code reviews, unit testing, and debugging, thereby ensuring the delivery of impeccable, bug-free code that mirrors our commitment to innovation.

Creative Problem-Solving

• Diagnose and resolve Android development-related technical issues, engaging with the team to uncover innovative and effective resolutions.

Staying Ahead

• Remain up-to-date with emerging technologies and advancements within the Android ecosystem, seamlessly integrating pertinent updates and enhancements into ongoing projects.

Qualifications:

• Experience: A minimum of 6-8 years in Android application development.
• App Publishing: Proven track record of publishing at least 2 apps on PlayStore using internal testing, Alpha, Beta, and production tracks.
• Expertise: Proficiency in UI and layout design, Fragments and their lifecycle, Modern Android Development skills, Activities and their lifecycle, App lifecycle.
• Android Jetpack: Strong familiarity with Android Jetpack library and its components, encompassing WorkManager, View Model, View model providers, UI and databinding, Life cycle Managers, Live data, observables.
• Architectural Skills: Sound command over Architectural design patterns.
• Data Management: Adeptness in using Room database, shared preferences, FileStorage, and other Android data storage mechanisms.
• Screen Adaptation: Experience in developing apps for diverse screen densities and resolutions.
• Build Systems: Proficiency in App build systems, including at least in Gradle.
• Integration Skills: Solid experience in integrating 3rd party libraries and SDKs.
• Firebase Mastery: Strong grasp of Firebase and its services, such as Firebase Cloud Messaging, Firebase Analytics, Google Analytics, Remote Config, and others.
• App Performance Enhancement: Hands-on experience with App monitoring services like Firebase Crashlytics, Firebase Performance, A/B switching.
• CI/CD Proficiency: Well-versed in CI/CD tools like Jenkins, Bitbucket pipelines.
• Version Control: Strong expertise in source code management tools, including Git, Bitbucket, Gitlab.
• Team Player: A collaborative team player with excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ownership: Proven ability to take ownership of assigned tasks and consistently deliver on time.
• Preferred: Previous involvement with ecommerce companies or ecommerce-related projects is highly desirable.

Expert Tips To Be A Successful Applicant:

As you embark on this exciting opportunity at Wasoko, we encourage you to showcase not only your technical prowess but also your collaborative spirit. The following tips will set you on the path to success:

1. Highlight Leadership: Emphasize your experience in guiding and leading teams, underscoring your ability to nurture talent and drive results.
2. Demonstrate Innovation: Share instances where you’ve contributed to the adoption of new technologies and practices, showcasing your role in driving innovation.
3. Prioritize User Experience: Illustrate your dedication to crafting seamless and engaging user experiences through your past projects.
4. Problem-Solving Stories: Provide anecdotes that portray your adeptness in troubleshooting and finding creative solutions to complex technical challenges.
5. Team Collaboration: Highlight your collaborative skills, underscoring your ability to work harmoniously with cross-functional teams.
6. Ownership Mindset: Discuss instances where you’ve taken ownership of tasks and delivered outstanding results on schedule.
7. Ecommerce Insight: If applicable, detail any involvement you’ve had with ecommerce-related ventures, demonstrating your understanding of this dynamic landscape.

We look forward to reviewing your application and potentially welcoming you to our vibrant and innovative team at Wasoko. Your expertise and dedication could be the driving force behind transforming African communities. Apply now and be a part of our journey!